Catching Up

After my busy week things have settled down slightly, although I am off to Sydney on Thursday for work, so this week's training will be disrupted again.

On Sunday of last weekend I did my longest run in a while. Fifteen kms or 25 laps of the creek flat! This was a mixed run. The first 6ks took 35.00 mins (quite quick for me), then I slowed down a little and started to get a bit of pain in my left knee which was quite sore by the last 3 laps (but I kept going as I really wanted to get to 15kms). All up this run took 1.31.47 which is a much better time than my last few 14k runs up the road (usually about 5 mins slower), but of course it is much flatter down there.

The knee has been playing up a bit since, strangely this seems to happen mostly when not running. So I have been taking it pretty easy with the running for the last week or so. The long run for this weekend was only 8kms and very easy.

The knee is feeling better today so I think I can probably get back into it this week (around work commitments which means at least one night away).

Thanks for the feedback regarding training and a program - I printed off the FIRST plan which looks ok, but I also like Scott's idea of planning around getting the long runs done (I guess they are the important ones). Still, that can all wait for the new year, when things will hopefully be less hectic.

Run Work Run Work

Happy to report that the Graves Disease is still in remission. The doctor was also very happy to note that my heart rate was in the 50s and my iron levels back to normal. So now there are no excuses. Except for work, life,etc.

Have had a very hectic week at work and worked all day yesterday, today off, then the next 6 days straight. Plus I am working in Coffs for the next week so that means 2 hours of driving each day. Thankfully they have opened up a new section of highway (finally) which means that it is about 10 minutes quicker.

On the running front I managed two 5k runs in the morning this week and walked three mornings (as I worked late a few nights). I am always slower in the morning , even walking. It takes a while for everything to wake up and for my achilles to loosen up.

Yesterday I managed a 10k run (after work) which will have to suffice for the long run as is a bit busy - picnic lunch for MIL's birthday today (although I'm not sure that the weather is going to cooperate so it might be lunch at a restaurant).

Still mulling over the marathon plan. The most pressing questions are: should I follow a program? (I have a very strong aversion to any kind of plan for some reason, so maybe need to develop my own) and can I do it on three days a week? (this will be hard when not daylight savings as there is often only enough daylight to get in a 5 or 6 k run and I think my mid-week runs will need to be longer).

I don't plan on getting into this seriously until January and my goal is to complete it comfortably (as in without suffering too much, having to walk, or worse) but to get to the start feeling as though I have done enough preparation.

Any suggestions from those more experienced that I would be greatly appreciated.